Oct 28, 2024 - Sports

Commanders' stunning win awakens fans' election superstitions

Natalie Daher

LANDOVER, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 27: Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders carries the ball while being pursued by Kevin Byard III #31 of the Chicago Bears during the third quarter at Northwest Stadium on October 27, 2024 in Landover, Maryland. — Washington Commanders' Jayden Daniels carries the ball while being pursued by Chicago Bears' Kevin Byard III during the third quarter at Northwest Stadium on Oct. 27 in Landover, Maryland. Photo: Greg Fiume/Getty Images

The Washington Commanders' Hail Mary victory on Sunday against the Chicago Bears has left some of the town's beleaguered fans feeling a little lighter — though not just about football.

Why it matters: D.C. sports obsessives have long drawn parallels between their NFL team's final home game before the U.S. presidential election and which candidate ultimately wins.

According to the long-running theory, star rookie QB Jayden Daniels' stunning 52-yard touchdown pass to vault the team to an 18-15 win in the final seconds is good news for Vice President Kamala Harris.

How it works: Under the Redskins Rule, coined as a nod to the team's former name, if the Commanders win, the incumbent party wins the election. If the D.C. team loses, so does the incumbent party.

In 17 of the 21 presidential campaigns since the team moved to Washington D.C. in 1937, the numbers have worked out that way.
But the last three presidential elections have countered the streak, including 2020. The briefly-known-as Washington Football Team handily defeated the Dallas Cowboys, but former President Trump lost to President Biden.

Between the lines: The last time the rule held true was in 2008. Barack Obama beat John McCain, and the then-Redskins got crushed by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The first exception was in 2004, when President George W. Bush defeated John Kerry, but the team lost to the Green Bay Packers.

If you're inclined to go deeper on the theory-more-than-rule, check out this Reddit thread.

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Commanders' stunning win awakens fans' election superstitions

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